Ever since online payments really took off, companies have been pushing for you to opt out of paper billing. The excuses were that it cost a lot to do, and wasn’t great for the environment. Then they started charging for paper billing, or at least offering you some form of incentive for not making them post you stuff.

With 2012 about to start, it seems Verizon has decided paying your bill online or over the phone is now worthy of an extra charge. So, from January 15, anyone choosing to pay their monthly bill using either method will incur a $2 charge.

Verizon is classing the charge as a “convenience fee” which translates into them deciding allowing you to pay either online or over the phone is a convenience. They also explain in the FAQ above that the fee allows them, “to continue to support these bill payment options.” Really, Verizon? When did offering online payments or accepting phone calls from customers get so much more expensive?

You can of course bypass the (pure profit) $2 fee in a number of ways including paying by electronic check (ACH), automatic monthly payments, through your online bank, in-store using My Verizon Express, BPK, or by actually talking to a store representative, using a gift or rebate card, or with a paper check or money order.

I find such an additional payment ridiculous, but it’s sure to make Verizon a substantial amount of money every month. If you’re a Verizon subscriber I suggest using an alternative payment method and avoiding it at all costs.